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Saint Rose Students Take Part in "A Day in the Life of the Hudson River"

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE HUDSON RIVER, also called Snapshot Day, is an event coordinated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Hudson River Estuary Program and Hudson Basin River Watch. On a specific day each year, participants travel to a variety of locations along the Hudson River to collect data and obtain a “snapshot” of the state of the river on that day. Activities include testing water samples, taking sediment samples, observing the wildlife living in and near the river. Participants include students, teachers, and representatives from environmental education centers around the state. The event is an opportunity to increase knowledge and appreciation of the Hudson River and teach some of the basic science necessary to study and understand the river.

The participation of college students from Saint Rose was organized by Mary Cosgrove, Stephanie Maes, and Kari Murad, who teach science courses specially designed for future teachers (SCI100, SCI200, and SCI350). For the past three years, College of Saint Rose students have teamed up with elementary school classes from Albany’s Delaware Community School (DCS) to take part Snapshot Day.

Prior to their trip to the Hudson, the Saint Rose students visit DCS to teach the elementary school kids about the tests they will be conducting and some of the related science. On Snapshot Day, Saint Rose faculty and students, the DCS classes, and others travel to Henry Hudson Park in Bethlehem to observe the river and conduct their tests. Some of the data collected included turbidity, chlorophyll content, salinity, tidal changes, pH, dissolved oxygen, and fish identification.

The data from all of the locations along the Hudson is collected and compiled by the Environmental Conservation Hudson River Estuary Program. Some of the data and samples collected will contribute to ongoing research projects. The data are incorporated into a curriculum developed by the Hudson River Estuary Program that is made available to teachers in the Hudson Valley.

Click here to listen to a report by WAMC public radio on Snapshot Day 2009, including interviews with several of the participants.